Carbon black mixing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A jacketed pelleter having a perforated inner wall for the introduction of a portion of that material introduced into the jacket through the wall of the pelleter and into contact with that material adhering to the wall of the pelleter.

Unlted States Patent 11 1 1111 3,779,683

Dollinger 1 Dec. 18, 1973 1 1 CARBON BLACK MIXING APPARATUS 3,269,029 8/1966 Moss 34/182 8 9 .1 75 Inventor: Robert E. Dollinger, Toledo, 01110 v [73] Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company, 21222-230 11/1940 259/9 Bartlesvine 1,641,305 9/1927 Trent 1 208/8 3,168,383 2/1965 Loewen ..l 23/314 [22] Filed: Apr. 27, 1972 3,249,263 5/1968 Howard 23/314 3,224,358 12/1965 Spielvoget 23/270 R [21] Appl. No.: 248,312

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 369,290 2/1923 Germany 34/182 [52} U.S. C1 425/222, 23/314, 264/117 670980 4/1952 Great Britain H 23/314 [51] Int. Cl ..B0lf 13/02, C09c 1/58, C09c 1/60 [58] Field of Search 23/314, 313, 267 C; Primary Exammer Norman Yudkoff 208/8; 201/5, 6; 259/9, 10; 34/181, 182, 183; Assistant EXaminer S' l Emery 165/109; 18/1; 261/83, 84; 55/230, 231, 91, A d Ob 92, 93, 86, 90, 95; 264/117; 425/222 Qu'gg er m 57 ABSTRACT [56} References Cited Ljicketed pelleter'having a perforated inner wall for UNITED STATES PATENTS the introduction of a portion of that material intro- 2,452,249 10/1948 Leiske 34/183 duced into the jacket through the wall of the pelleter and into Contact with that material adhering to the mgus.... 2.317.026 4/1943 Brown 23 314 wan of the penetar' 2.719,?79 10/1955 Bray 23/314 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures CARBON BLACK MIXING APPARATUS This invention relates to carbon black mixing apparatus.

In one of its more specific aspects, this invention relates to carbon black pelleting apparatus.

The mixing of carbon black in such operations as the pelleting of carbon black is well known as indicated by US. Pat. No. 3,607,086 and the patent references cited therein.

Generally, such apparatus comprises a horizontallypositioned chamber adapted with mixing means and conduits for introducing the carbon black and those materials with which it is pelleted. During the mixing process, the black is conveyed from its point of entrance to the exit of the chamber and tends to assume the shape of pellets.

Among those materials present in the pelleter can be the oil introduced in adherence to the black, and various agents, usually liquids, which are introduced to facilitate the pelleting of the black. While the mixing means with which the pelleter is provided, usually pelleter pins, is adapted to almost contact the inner surface of the chamber, such action does not prevent the buildup of a thin layer of carbon black on that surface. This buildup retards the rotation of the shaft on which the pelleter pins are mounted. This causes pin wear, loss of control of the pelleting process, and increases power requirements to rotate the shaft.

The method and apparatus of this invention are directed towards the solution of this problem. According to this invention there is provided carbon black pelleting apparatus comprising a walled chamber adapted with pelleting means adapted to rotate within the chamber. The chamber is jacketed and the jacket is adapted with conduit means for the introduction of a fluid into the jacket. At least a portion of the wall of the chamber is apertured for the passage of a fluid from the jacket into the chamber. 7

Also, according to this invention there is provided a method for pelleting carbon black which comprises agitating carbon black within a walled chamber to pellet the carbon black and passing a fluid through apertures positioned within I the wall of the chamber and into contact with the carbon black to move the carbon black from the wall of the chamber.

This invention is applicable employing conventional carbon blacks, pelleting agents, materials of construction of the pelleter, and pelleting procedures. However, in the invention the pelleter is jacketed to heat the internal surface of the chamber and/or at least a portion of the internal wall of at least one section of the chamber is apertured to provide for the introduction of a fluid, preferably steam, from the jacket through the wall of the chamber and into contact with the layer of carbon black which adheres to the wall of the chamber. This contact removes the carbon black layer from the wall. Any suitable fluid can be used, including such gases as steam, nitrogen and flue gas. Preferably, the fluid is employed at an elevated temperature sufficient to remove a portion of the liquids employed in the pelleting from the adhering black. Preferably, high pressure steam is employed to heat the chamber wall by flashing high pressure steam in the jacket of the pelleter and permitting the steam to leave the jacket at a lower pressure, preferably atmospheric.

This invention will be more easily understood by referring to the attached drawing in which FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of the invention and in which FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of one embodiment of the invention, which figures depict the best mode for the prac tice of the invention. An embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIG. I there is shown pelleter 1 adapted with chamber 2 into which carbon black is introduced through inlet 3 and from which carbon black pellets are removed through exit conduit 4. Chamber 2 is adapted with shaft 5 on which a multiplicity of pins 6 are shown, only a portion of the pins being shown for simplicity. The shaft is rotated by conventional drive means 7. For the introduction of pelleting agents, any number of conduits 9, which can enter the chamber at any desired location, are provided. Preferably, the

chamber will be comprised of separate upper section 10 and separate lower section 11 which can be adapted for flanging by means of flanges 112 as shown in FIG. 2. However, the chamber can be comprised of lower section 11, only, and hence be of a trough-like configuration.

Positioned around the periphery of chamber 2 is jacket 13 into which a fluid is introduced through conduit 14, being removed from the jacket through conduit l5. Ifa hot fluid is introduced, the inner surface of chamber 2 is heated with the result that the wet black which comes in contact therewith becomes heated. Thereupon, the black tends to dry and this drying causes its dislodgement from the walls.

The wall of section 10 and/or the wall of section 11 is adapted with apertures 16 such that some flow of that material introduced into the jacket passes through the apertures and acts to dislodge the black.

The apparatus and method of this invention can encompass a plurality of embodiments among which the following are included.

In one embodiment, steam can be introduced into the jacket, one or both sections of the chamber being adapted with apertures for the passage of steam therethrough to dislodge the black.

In another embodiment, an inert gas such as nitrogen can be introduced into the jacket, one or both sections of the chamber being adapted with apertures for the passage of the gas therethrough to dislodge the black.

In another embodiment thereof, as shown in FIG. 3, each of the sections of the chamber is adapted with an individual jacket and with individual introductory conduits and exit conduits associated therewith. Relatedly, either one or both of the section walls can be apertured. In this embodiment, individual gaseous fluids can be passed into either jacket and either, or both, fluids can be passed through an apertured chamber wall to dislodge the carbon black deposit adhering thereto. In the embodiment representing the best mode, the apparatus is adapted with individual and separate jackets for each of the two sections. Steam is introduced into the jacket associated with the lower section, the jacket is heated and steam or condensate is discharged from the jacket. l-Iot flue gas, steam, or air is introduced into a separate jacket associated with the upper section, the jacket is heated and the hot flue gas, steam or air is passed through apertures contained in the upper section to further facilitate the dislodging of the adhering carbon black. This embodiment can be supplemented by means which impulsively introduce the fluids and with exhaust means which withdraw them from the chamber and with recirculation means thereto.

through;

b. a jacket encompassing said mixing chamber, said jacket comprising a first jacket encompassing said upper section and a second jacket encompassing said lower section;

c. conduit means and pulsating means for pulsatingly introducing a fluid into said first jacket; and,

d. rotary agitator means disposed in said mixing chamber. 

1. Apparatus for pelleting carbon black which comprises: a. a longitudinally disposed mixing chamber having upper and lower sections, said upper section being defined by a wall penetrated by a plurality of apertures adapted for the passage of a fluid therethrough; b. a jacket encompassing said mixing chamber, said jacket comprising a first jacket encompassing said upper section and a second jacket encompassing said lower section; c. conduit means and pulsating means for pulsatingly introducing a fluid into said first jacket; and, d. rotary agitator means disposed in said mixing chamber. 